I know you have all been updated on not being able to use plastic bags to haul your yard waste as of Jan. 1, but I wanted to remind you of some very convenient options.

The first option is to purchase the inexpensive paper bags and fill those up, leaving them at your curb for collection. The second option is to get a free 32 or 64 gallon green yard cart from the city to put your yard debris in and conveniently roll out to the curb for collection. The free yard cart can be picked up at 935 Spa Road between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and may only be used for yard waste.

There is a limit of one cart per household.

All containers and bags must weigh less than 50 pounds. You can also put small branches or limbs in bundles, which should be no longer than 2 feet by 4 feet in size. Tie branches, vines and brush together with natural fiber rope or twine so that they can be picked up as a bundle. No branches may be larger than 4 inches in diameter. If you have any questions, call 410-263-7949 or go to http://bit.ly/1eL4OSB for more information.

And speaking of branches and yard waste, Christmas trees may be placed at the curb with yard waste collection on Wednesday's beginning Jan. 11. If your Christmas tree is larger than 6 feet tall, please consider cutting it in half, prior to yard waste collection.

I also want to remind you recycling and refuse collection will not be affected on Monday, Jan. 16, even though Annapolis City government offices are closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Pip Moyer Recreation Center will operate on their regular schedule but the Annapolis Transit will operate on a Sunday Service Schedule. For more information on the schedule, go to http://bit.ly/19Q2Iwa.

Finally, Mayor Michael Pantelides invites residents to attend the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Parade on Jan. 16, which will kick off from Amos Garrett Boulevard at noon. The parade travels down West Street to Church Circle, around the circle to Main Street, down Main Street, and ends at City Dock.

Streets along the route will close at noon and are expected to remain closed until approximately 2 p.m. Pantelides announced the Hillman Parking Garage will be open to the public, free of charge, on Jan. 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to accommodate local businesses and those attending the parade. Regular garage pricing at the Hillman Garage will resume at 3 p.m.